Bede Aloysius Monnin

Bede A. Monnin, 79, a lifetime resident of Russia passed away Sunday, June 9, 2013, at 12:18 a.m. at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born on June 21, 1933, in Russia, the son of the late Leo and Marie (Guillozet) Monnin. On Nov. 24, 1962, in St. Henry Catholic Church in St. Henry, he married the former Barbara Homan, who survives in Russia.

Bede is survived by his children, Sandy and Randy Hoehne, of Fort Loramie; Alan and Sandy (Schmitmeyer) Monnin, of Russia; Andrew and Paula (Black) Monnin, of Piqua; Neal and Beth (Watercutter) Monnin, of Troy; and Randy and Krista (Marantos) Monnin, of Madeira.

He has eleven grandchildren: Ryan and Alison Hoehne, of Anna; Matt and Megan (Hoehne) Elsass, of Xenia; Abbey Monnin, of West Hollywood, Calif.; Jacob and Joseph Monnin, of Russia; Kristen, Daniel and Nathan Monnin, of Piqua; Eli Monnin, of Troy; and Kate and Drew Monnin, of Madeira.

Other survivors include six brothers: James Monnin, of Xenia, Guy and Sharon Monnin, of Tipp City, Mark and Lois Monnin, of Russia, Ray and Doris Monnin, of Hilliard, Leon and Dianne Monnin, of South Easton, Mass., and Clem Monnin of Dayton; and four sisters: Urs and Gary Pierron, of Tipp City, Rose and Norbert Lachat, of Russia, Lucy and Leo Oen, of Russia, and Dorothy Hathaway, of Joshua Tree, Calif. He is also survived by sister-in-law Caroline Monnin of Centerville and brother-in-law Mark Homan of Marion.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his father and mother-in-law Clem and Irene (Bergman) Homan, two brothers, Bernard and Joseph Monnin, a sister, Sister Teresa Monnin, and in-laws Maxine Monnin, Phyllis Monnin, and Dale Hathaway.

Mr. Monnin was a 1951 graduate of Russia High School, and served in the Army in Hamburg, Germany, from 1953 to 1955. Mr. Monnin was a self-employed brick layer for more than 40 years, working primarily in the Shelby and Darke county areas until his retirement in 1995.

Bede had a strong faith in the Lord and was devoted to living out that faith through his acts of service for his church and community. Mr. Monnin was a member of St. Remy Catholic Church where he had served as a parish council member, lector, Eucharistic Minister, and funeral mass usher.

He enjoyed volunteering for many different community activities. Most notably, he was as a member of the St. Remy Knights of Columbus for 50 years, serving a term as the Grand Knight. He was a member of the Catholic War Veterans Post 661 of Russia for 50 years, serving as Commander and on the firing squad for 40 years as a flag bearer. He was a member of the Shelby County Right to Life. He also served as a volunteer for the Russia bloodmobile.

Bede and his wife enjoyed spending time with their family, being outdoors, attending outdoor concerts, and polka dancing. He was known as both an accomplished fisherman and a prize-winning gardener and was delighted to share his years of gardening experience with others. With the help of family of he enjoyed making apple cider, pure maple syrup, and homemade ice cream. He made thousands of rosaries that made their way into the hands of many military personnel and were delivered by missionaries around the world.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Remy Catholic Church, Russia with the Rev. Frank Amberger Celebrant. Burial will take place at St. Remy Cemetery with full military honors. Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Russia from 2 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Remy Catholic Church, Wilson Hospice, and the Russia Wellness Foundation. Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.